Top 10 Differences Between Cast and Extruded Acrylic
| Cast | Extruded | |
| Cost | Cast manufacturing is more labor intensive and therefore more expensive. | Manufacturing process of extruded makes it more cost effective. |
| Thickness | Available in a larger range of thicknesses | Formed in a single sheet and limited to thinner sheets |
| Heat Bending | Higher melting point and hard to bend or shape | Lower melting point, pliable and soft making it ideal for bending and thermoforming |
| Scratch Resistance | More scratch resistant | Less scratch resistant |
| Laser Engraving | Preferred choice for laser engraving, produces a frosty look with a smooth polished edge that won’t bend or chip during cutting | Less desirable for laser engraving; produces fumes, and susceptible to stress cracks. |
| Strength | Much harder and stronger than extruded, high impact resistance | Softer than cast, not as impact resistant |
| Cutting | More forgiveness when cut and can be cut into any shape | Better for straight cuts. Any other cuts can produce stress cracks |
| Installation | Great for smaller projects and large fabrications relying on durability | Ideal for large projects and uniform uses |
| Flame Polishing | Harder to flame polish | Easy to flame polish |
| Chemical Resistance | Better chemical resistance | Slightly less chemical resistance |
Conclusion
Cast acrylic has an extremely hard surface and can be made into any desirable thickness, making it more versatile for larger structures and installations. It also has a wide range of color and texture options available.
Extruded acrylic has a higher tolerance to heat and bending and can be bent into any desirable shape.
But whatever your signage needs, acrylic is definitely a great choice to go with.
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